Doctor of Civil Law

At Oxford, the degree is a higher doctorate usually awarded on the basis of exceptionally insightful and distinctive publications that contain significant and original contributions to the study of law or politics in general.

The degree of Doctor of Canon Law was replaced by the DCL after the Reformation.

The degree of Doctor of Civil Law by Diploma is customarily conferred on foreign Heads of State, as well as on the Chancellor of the university.

However, prior to her accession, Queen Elizabeth II of the UK accepted several honorary degrees, including a DCL from Oxford in 1948.

[1] The following other higher institutions also provide[clarification needed] for awarding DCL degrees: In some other universities, the DCL is an honorary degree.